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The Appellate Division upheld the High Court verdict clearing the BNP chairperson of charges in the case
Published : 03 Mar 2025, 10:48 AM
The Appellate Division has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
A three-member appellate bench led by senior Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam delivered the verdict in the case on Monday morning.
The state and the Anti-Corruption Commission had filed an appeal against the High Court verdict that cleared the BNP chairperson of charges in the case. Bangladesh’s top court then set Monday for the verdict.
On Oct 29, 2018, Khaleda was sentenced to prison for seven years and fined Tk 1 million in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
On Apr 30 the following year, the High Court accepted a petition to appeal the case, but no hearings were held afterwards.
After the fall of the Awami League regime on Aug 5 last year, the High Court upheld Khaleda's appeal and acquitted her on Nov 27. The state and the ACC then filed appeals at the Appellate Division.
On Feb 8, 2018, former prime minister Khaleda was sentenced to prison for five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and sent to jail. The appeal in the case was then heard by the High Court, which extended the jail sentence to 10 years.
President Md Shahabuddin remitted her sentences on Aug 6 under Article 49 of the Constitution following the government changeover last August.
A Bangabhaban statement noted that the decision followed discussions between the president and various political leaders, civil society members, and leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.
Article 49 grants the president the authority to “grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority”.
However, under the law, while the president’s clemency can remit a sentence, it does not nullify the conviction. A person convicted by a court remains ineligible to run for elections for five years after their release.
Following the presidential pardon, Khaleda's lawyers filed an appeal in the High Court in early November, seeking her acquittal in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
Explaining the reason for pursuing the appeal, Khaleda’s lawyer Kayser Kamal said, “Khaleda Zia wishes to clear her name in court. That is why we have filed for an expedited hearing in the Charitable Trust case.”
Similarly, in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, the Appellate Division granted permission for an appeal against Khaleda's 10-year sentence and suspended the sentence until the appeal is heard.
